The Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, has called for more child-friendly laws in Nigeria.
He made the call during the ongoing National Children Leadership Conference organised by the Children of African Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV), founded by a member of the House, Mr. Bamidele Salam.
Mr. Kalu said that if the children are properly groomed and taken care of, they’ll be a pride to the nation.
Mr. Kalu said that children are not only the leaders of tomorrow but influencers of today, emphasizing that the destiny of the country lies in their hands.
“Today, we gather here because children are the symbol of hope for Nigeria. Your energy, dreams, and potential are the foundation on which our nation’s progress rests. You are not just the leaders of tomorrow—you are the influencers of today, shaping conversations, challenging norms, and standing as beacons of possibility.
“As I look into this room, I see more than faces; I see dreamers, doers, and decision-makers. But leadership, dear young ones, is not just about standing out—it’s about standing for what is right, even when it is difficult. It’s about having the bravery to speak up for truth, fairness, and justice. Leadership is not about leading alone; it’s about working with others, building teams, and finding strength in unity.
“Nigeria’s destiny lies in the hands of young leaders like you. You have the power to transform our country, to heal divisions, and to inspire unity. You are not just the hope of our future—you are the architects of it.
“Let the lessons you’ve learned here guide you. Let your passion drive you. And let your actions remind us all that the future of Nigeria is bright, because it rests in capable, compassionate, and courageous hands,” he said.
Improved Education Through Subsidy Funds
While donating twenty million naira to help bring more children from all parts. of the country for next year’s edition, Kalu also promised to convey to the appropriate quarters the request of the youth wherein they appealed that the money accrued from petrol subsidy removal should be channelled to improve education, and health amongst other priority areas of the economy.
“I am impressed with what I am seeing tonight and I want to assure you on the motion that you raised and presented to me, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate President as well as Mr. President will hear your motion. You raised a topical, very important issue and Nigeria is going to hear you,” the Deputy Speaker assured.
Empowerment for Out-of-School Children
The Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara, called on state governors to adopt at least five motherless children as part of efforts geared toward ending the menace of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
She applauded CALDEV Founder, Mr. Bamidele Salam, for prioritizing children-related initiatives, as she observed has been excluded from various programmes organised by public institutions for women, youths, physically challenged and for all strata and all manner of people.
“The impact has been very wonderful, a lot of children have been able to express themselves in terms of acting, singing and doing a number of different things showcasing their talents and learning a lot of things that would naturally not learn in school. So, this is a very good initiative, it’s a very laudable programme,” she said.
She expressed a belief in the president of Nigeria, referring to him as a leader, a father, and someone who cares about young people. Ogbara highlighted that in the president’s recent national address, plans were highlighted to organise a conference for young people across the nation, adding that the initiative would positively impact the lives of young people.
Mrs. Ogbara emphasised the importance of giving young people a voice in shaping the future, stating that by doing so, the nation would be preparing for its future leadership.
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She shared that they had encouraged young people to recognize that the future is now and that it is essential to include young people in all processes so they can naturally develop the leadership skills needed for tomorrow.
She also made a clarion call for individuals to take action, urging that anyone could adopt a child, especially one who is currently out of school. She noted that one in three children in Nigeria is out of school, and pointed out that 60% of these children are girls. This population of out-of-school children represents 15% of the world’s total.
“So, it means Nigeria is taking the large chunk of the world population of children that are out of school and this calls for an emergency, it calms for our proactiveness, it calls for all of us to be called to act,” she stated.
Ogbara appealed to all sectors of society—mothers, parents, policymakers, and the government—to act, suggesting that even governors could adopt five children each, which would significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children.
She emphasised that addressing this issue is crucial for the future of Nigeria, as those children will grow to become the leaders of tomorrow.
“So, these are things we need to do as soon as possible because when we speak about children being out of school and we are speaking about a better Nigeria, the betterment of Nigeria is ahead and these are our children that will become that future.
“And a lot of them are into a lot of illicit activities like drugs, into hooliganism, thuggery and lot that, so, once these children are not given the right attention we will not be preparing for a better future, so it’s very important for us to be active now and do the right thing,” Mrs. Ogbara said.
Bridging Generational Gaps
Another lawmaker, Mr. Abdulsamad Dasuki, noted that the evolution of social media has created a wide gap between the older and younger generations of Nigerians.
“I strongly believe it’s high time we start having inter-generations coming together so that we can share knowledge.” Mr. Dasuki said.
He said that the House has to be deliberate to empower the younger generations.
The founder of the National Children Leadership Conference organized by the Children of African Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV), Mr. Bamidele Salam, said that the initiative was founded in 2015 and has continued to empower children across Nigeria. He promised to do even more in the coming years.
They used the occasion to make some recommendations to the government for the good of Nigerian children.
Highpoints of the event included the presentation of some cash awards to some youths who performed exceptionally in some intellectual tasks assigned to them to execute at the conference.
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